Leeds West Indian Carnival 2026: What you need to know

Leeds West Indian Carnival is the largest Caribbean carnival outside London, attracting around 100,000 visitors each year.

The event began in 1967 and is held on the last weekend in August, celebrating music, dance, food and culture.

As well as the carnival parade on Bank Holiday Monday, there are events going on in the run-up to the main event.

Here's all you need to know about what's going on, how to get there, and what not to miss.

The carnival parade takes place on Monday 31 August, beginning at 14:00 BST in Potternewton Park on Harehills Lane, Leeds.

There will be a procession from the park along Harehills Avenue, Spencer Place, Roundhay Road, Barrack Road and Chapeltown Road, looping back to the park.

Carnival troupes will do two laps of the route - the first for the judges to see the costumes and displays, and the second for the troupes to enjoy the celebrations before returning to the park and performing on stage.

The celebrations kick off on Sunday with the Black Music Festival, featuring live performances at Potternewton Park.

There is a sunrise procession beginning at 06:00 on Monday morning called J'Ouvert Morning (Pre-Jam). It starts at the Leeds Caribbean and African Centre and winds through local streets, ending at 08:30.

Carnival organisers advise people going to the parade to use public transport, heading to Potternewton Park on buses to Chapeltown.

Roundhay Road is a good place to see the parade once it has left the park.

The bus routes serving Chapeltown and Harehills will be running on diversion, dropping passengers off on Scott Hall Road and Stainbeck Lane instead due to the closure of Chapeltown Road.

Key roads along the route will be fully closed from 08:00 BST on Sunday until 06:30 on Tuesday.

These include Chapeltown Road, Harehills Avenue and Avenue Hill, Leeds City Council said.

Spencer Place, Roundhay Road and Barrack Road will be closed from 05:00 BST until 22:00 on Monday.

Most public transport links and emergency access routes to St James's Hospital will be strictly maintained throughout the day, the council said.

Several bus services will be diverted due to the carnival, West Yorkshire Combined Authority said.

These are services 2, 3, 3A, 12, 13, 13A, 36 and 91.

For services 2, 3 and 3A, Chapeltown Road will be closed from 08.00 on Sunday until 06:30 on Tuesday with services operating via Scott Hall Road and Stainbeck Lane in both directions.

There will be a diversion via North Street, Sheepscar Street North, Scott Hall Road, Right Stainbeck Lane and Left Harrogate Road.

On services 12, 13 and 13A, services will be diverted on Monday as Roundhay Road will be closed.

For buses towards Oakwood, services will go along Vicar Lane, Eastgate, Regent Street, Stamford Street and Roseville Road.

Those going towards Vicar Lane will be diverted along Roseville Road, Stamford Street, Regent Street, Byron Street and North Street.

The event is free and no ticket is required. It relies on funding from Leeds City Council.

Arthur France MBE Hon LLD, founding member and chairperson of Leeds West Indian Carnival, said: "We pride ourselves on welcoming everyone to carnival – ours is an open invitation and we invite you to celebrate."

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "We recognise the enormous benefits that this annual event makes to our city's culture, economy, and communities and we are very proud to host it.

"It should be a great weekend where everyone can join in."

There will be plenty of food stalls at the park, selling signature Caribbean dishes such as jerk chicken, rice and peas and sugar cane. You won't go hungry!

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